Lock having an indicatory lock core

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a lock, which includes a housing and an indicative lock core. The indicative lock core is operable by a key to move to an indicative position and be stuck in the indicative position. The indicative lock core can move back to its original position only through a restore mechanism. When the key-operated lock core is in the indicative position, the key-operated lock core is partly situated outside the housing and is easily noticed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a lock, and more particularly to a lockincluding an indicative lock core adapted both to lock/unlock the lockand to indicate whether the lock has been unlocked.

2. Related Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,345 and U.S. Pat. Pub. No.: 2005/0262902A1 eachshows a lock including an indicator therein. The indicator is capable ofbeing driven by a key-operated lock core of the lock to move to anindicative position, whereby it indicates to a user whether thekey-operated lock core of the lock has been operated. However, theindicator occupies some of the space inside the lock and is alsocorrelated with an increase in structural complexity.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a lock including a housing and an indicativelock core. The indicative lock core is configured to be activated by akey in order to lock/unlock the lock and to indicate whether theindicative lock core of the lock has been operated as to unlock thelock.

The indicative lock core includes a spindle. The spindle defines akeyhole for receiving the key.

Preferably, the indicative lock core is configured in a way that thespindle moves to an indicative position when the key is taken out fromthe keyhole.

Preferably, the indicative lock core is configured in a way that thespindle moves to the indicative position when the key is inserted intothe keyhole.

Preferably, the indicative lock core is configured in a way that thespindle moves to the indicative position when the key drives the spindleto rotate.

In any case, when the spindle is in the indicative position, the spindleis partly situated outside the housing in order to demonstrate that theindicative lock core has been operated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a padlock according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled padlock of FIG. 1and a key;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one half-shell of the padlock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the other half-shell of the padlock ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating an indicativelock core and a housing of the padlock of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partially broken away to show details ofconstruction, of the padlock of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, showing that the key is inserted into thepadlock and the spindle of the padlock is allowed to be rotated;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, showing that the key is on the way out ofthe padlock;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, showing that the indicative lock core ispartly exposed outside the housing;

FIG. 10 is another side view, partially broken away to show details ofconstruction, of the padlock of FIG. 2, showing that a restoring plateis included in the padlock;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, showing that the indicative lock coretogether with the restoring plate is partly exposed outside the housing;

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, showing that the restoring plate ispushed back into the housing by an insert;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an inside of the padlock of FIG. 2,showing that the padlock is in a locking state;

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13, showing that a correct combination of thecombination lock core of the padlock is entered and the shackle islifted up to have the padlock enter into an unlocking state;

FIG. 15 is a partly perspective view of the padlock of FIG. 2, showingthat the key is inserted into the indicative lock core of the padlock;

FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15, showing that the indicative lock core isdriven to rotate by the key;

FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16, showing that the shackle of the padlockis lifted up;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a padlock according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is similar to FIG. 18, showing that an indicative lock core ofthe padlock is partly bounced out of the housing once a key is insertedinto a keyhole of the indicative lock core;

FIG. 20 is similar to FIG. 19, showing that the shackle of the padlockis lifted up once the key drives the indicative lock core to rotate;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing a route of a protrusion formed on aspindle of the indicative lock core of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of a padlock according to a third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing a route of a protrusion formed on aspindle of the indicative lock core of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing a route of a blocking plate disposedon the indicative lock core of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is similar to FIG. 22, showing that a key is inserted into thepadlock;

FIG. 26 is similar to FIG. 25, showing that the indicative lock core ispartly bounced out of the housing when the key drives the indicativelock core to rotate;

FIG. 27 is similar to FIG. 26, showing that the indicative lock coreremains in the indicative position even if the key is rotated reverselyand extracted from the indicative lock core;

FIG. 28 is a schematic view of a padlock according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is similar to FIG. 28, showing that a key is inserted androtated in the indicative lock core of the padlock to enable the shackleto be lifted up;

FIG. 30 is similar to FIG. 29, showing that when the key is pulled outof the indicative lock core, the indicative lock core moves with the keyto have its lower portion exposed outside the housing;

FIG. 31 is similar to FIG. 30, showing that a restoring device of thepadlock can move with the shackle upward when a correct combination ofthe combination lock core is entered;

FIG. 32 is similar to FIG. 31, showing that the indicative lock core isallowed to be pushed back into the housing after the upward movement ofthe restoring device;

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of a padlock according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention, showing that the padlock includesan indicative lock core capable of being operated by either a first keyor a second key; and

FIG. 34 is similar to FIG. 33, showing that the indicative lock core ispartly exposed outside the housing by operation of the second key.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a lock in accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention includes a housing 1 and anindicatory/indicative lock core 2. The housing 1 is composed of twohalf-shells and the two half-shells together define an opening 10 in abottom. The indicative lock core 2 is disposed in the housing 1 andincludes a spindle 20, a plurality of latch plates 21 and a plurality ofsprings 22.

The spindle 20 has a cylindrical shape and is normally received in thehousing 1 with its end received in the opening 10. The spindle 20 isformed with a protrusion 25 on a side and defines a keyhole 200 thereinand a plurality of latch slots 201 parallel to one another. The keyhole200 is configured to receive teeth 30 of a key 3 which is mated with theindicative lock core 2. These latch slots 201 are verticallyinterconnected with the keyhole 200. These latch plates 21 together withthe corresponding springs 22 are assembled in the latch slots 201respectively. The latch plates 21 are biased by the springs 22respectively in such a way that the latch plates 21 are normally partlysituated outside the latch slots 201. In other situations, those latchplates 21 may bounce out of or draw back to the latch slots 201 as aresult of the flexibility of the springs 22. In contrast, no springabuts the blocking plate 23 so that the blocking plate 23 is freelyreceived in the blocking slot 203.

Each of the latch plates 21 defines a hole 210 therein. When each latchplate 21 is assembled in the respective latch slot 201, the holes 210are in alignment/communication with the keyhole 200. Inner plateaus 2101of the holes 210 of the latch plates 21 are located in different heightlevels, some higher, some lower, and no two ones are situated in thesame level, and that depends on shape of the teeth 30 of the key 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing 1 defines a room 100corresponding to the latch plates 21 and has a ridge 102 dividing theroom 100 into an upper section and a lower section. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, the latch plates 21 are mostly received in the latch slots 201 ofthe spindle 20 and partly exposed outside the spindle 20. Those exposedportions of the latch plates 21 are received in the room 100 and areconfined by opposed side walls 101 of the room 100 in such a way thatthe spindle 20 is not allowed to rotate. In addition, as shown in FIG.6, since at least one latch plate 21 is blocked by the ridge 102, thespindle 20 is not allowed to move linearly in a direction away from theopening 10 either.

As shown in FIG. 1, the indicative lock core 2 further includes ablocking plate 23. The spindle 20 further defines a blocking slot 203for receiving the blocking plate 23. The blocking slot 203 is inparallel with those latch slots 201 and vertically interconnected withthe keyhole 200. The blocking plate 23 defines a hole 230. When theblocking plate 23 is assembled in the blocking slot 203, the hole 230 isin alignment/communication with the keyhole 200. An inner plateau 2301of the hole 230 and the inner plateaus 2101 of the latch plate 21 arelocated on the same side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing 1 has a rib 103 corresponding tothe blocking plate 23. The rib 103 has an incline 104.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the key 3 is inserted into the keyhole 200 andpasses through all the holes 210 of the latch plates 21 and the hole 230of the blocking plate 23, the latch plates 21 retract into the latchslots 201 from the room 100 of the housing 1 as a result of the innerplateaus 2101 of the latch plates 21 being pressed by the teeth 30 ofthe key 30. That is, the latch plates 21 are no more confined by the twoopposite side walls 101 of the room 100. At this time, the spindle 20 isallowed to be rotated by the key 3 in order to unlock the lock.

Likewise, when the key 3 is inserted into the keyhole 200, the plateau230I of the blocking plate 23 is pushed by the teeth 30 to have theblocking plate 23 partly situated outside the blocking slot 203.Specifically, the teeth 30 have a highest awl-shaped protrusion 301. Theplateau 2301 of the blocking plate 23 is pushed aside by the passinghighest awl-shaped protrusion 301 when the key 3 is inserted into thekeyhole 200.

After being rotated by the key to unlock the lock, the spindle 20 canthen be rotated reversely back to its original position by reverseoperation of the key. When the spindle 20 is rotated to its originalposition via the key 3, the key 3 is allowed to be removed from thekeyhole 200 of the spindle 20 so as to have each latch plates 21 berestored to its original state where each latch plates 21 is biased bythe spring 22 and partly received in the room 100. At this time, theblocking plate 23 remains partly situated outside the blocking slot 203and abutting against the incline 104 of the housing 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, while the key 3 is drawn out of the keyhole 200 ofthe spindle 20, a distal end 23 a of the blocking plate 23 is firstslightly stuck in between an incline 3010 of the highest awl-shapedprotrusion 301 and the incline 104 of the rib 103 so that the key 3 cangrab and drag the spindle 20 to move together. When the distal end 23 aof the blocking plate 23 moves with the spindle 20 downward and crossesover the incline 104 of the rib 103, the key 3 then pushes the blockingplate 23 aside via its incline 3010 so that the spindle 20, without thehelp of the blocking plate 23, is no more movable with the key 3 andremains in an indicative position, as shown in FIG. 9. Then, since thekey 3 is no more kept by blocking plate 23, the key 3 may continue tocompletely move out of the keyhole 200 by itself.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the spindle 20 remains in the indicativeposition, a lower portion 20 a of the spindle 20 is situated outside thehousing 1. Because the ridge 102 of the housing 1 exactly gets stuck inbetween two of the latch plates 21, the spindle 20 is stuck and unableto be pushed back to its original position or drawn out further. Theportion 20 a of the spindle 20 situated outside the housing 1 indicatesthat the spindle 20 has been operated by the key 3. To attract one'sattention, the portion 20 a of the spindle 20 may be painted with acolor different from the color of the housing 1. Preferably, there is acontrast between the color of the whole spindle 20 and the color of thehousing 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing 1 further defines a U-turn shapedchannel 13. When the spindle 20 moves or rotates, the protrusion 25 ofthe spindle 20 moves along the channel 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock further includes a restoring device4 configured to push the portion 20 a of the spindle 20 back into thehousing 1. To install the restoring device 4, the spindle 20 of theindicative lock core 2 further defines a restoring passage 204, eachlatch plate 21 defines a restoring hole 211, and the blocking plate 23defines a restoring hole 231. The restoring passage 204 is parallel withthe keyhole 200 and in communication with each other. When each latchplate 21 is assembled in the respective latch slot 201, the restoringholes 211 are exactly in alignment/communication with the restoringpassage 204. When the blocking plate 23 is assembled in the blockingslot 203, the restoring hole 231 is exactly in alignment/communicationwith the restoring passage 204. The restoring device 4 includes arestoring plate 40, a spring 41 and a fixing plate 42. The restoringplate 40 has a cone recess 401 and an opposite cone protrusion 402 atthe middle.

As shown in FIG. 10, the restoring plate 40 is assembled in therestoring passage 204 and passes through the restoring holes 211 of thelatch plates 21 and the restoring hole 231 of the blocking plate 23. Thefixing plate 42 is lodged in the spindle 20 and across the restoringpassage 204. The spring 41 is biased between the restoring plate 40 andthe fixing plate 42. In particular, the restoring hole 231 of theblocking plate 23 is exactly aligned with the middle section of therestoring plate 40. An edge 231 a of the restoring hole 231 of theblocking plate 23 abuts against a sidewall 401 a of the cone recess 401.One of the latch plates 21 has its plateau 2101 abutting against asidewall 402 a of the cone protrusion 402.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the spindle 20 is dragged out by the key 3 inorder to expose the portion 20 a and is stuck in the indicativeposition. At this time, as mentioned above, the ridge 102 of the housing1 is stuck in between the two latch plates 21. However, a relationshipamong the restoring plate 40, the latch plates 21 and the blocking plate23 remains the same.

FIG. 12 illustrates that a tool 6, such as an elongated stem or a thinstrip, is used to push the restoring plate 40 inward a bit. At thistime, one of the latch plates 21, which is originally blocked by theridge 102, and the blocking plate 23 are both pressed by the restoringplate 40 to retract, and a hook portion 404 of the restoring plate 40contacts with a bottom of the lowest latch plate 21, and thereby thespindle 20 is in a state ready to be moved inward. The tool 6 can bepushed inward further so as to bring the spindle 20 completely into thehousing 1, as shown in FIG. 10.

According to the above, the spindle 20 can be rotated by rotation of thekey 30 so as to lock or unlock the lock. In particular, the spindle 20can be dragged out and partly situated outside the housing 1 by drawingout the key 3 from the spindle 20 to indicate that the indicative lockcore 2 has been operated or activated by the key 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lock is a padlock. That is, the lock includes ashackle 6. The shackle 6 has a root section 60 and a free section 61.The root section 60 is disposed in the housing 1. The free section 61extends from the root section 60 and disposed outside the housing 1.

In order to become a dual lock, the lock further includes a combinationlock core 7 and a controlling unit 8. The combination lock core 7includes a movable part 70 and a plurality of numeral wheels 71. When acorrect combination on the numeral 71 wheels is dialed, the movable part70 is allowed to move axially. When a wrong combination on the numeralwheels is dialed, the movable part 70 is locked and is not allowed tomove axially. In this embodiment, the movable part 70 is composed of anupright stem 702 and a lateral stem 701 joined to the upright stem 702in order that a distal end 70 a of the movable part 70 can reach to thecontrolling unit 8.

The controlling unit 8 is disposed in the housing 1 and is able torotate and move axially. The root section 60 of the shackle 6 isrotatably mounted on the controlling unit 8 via a U-shaped latch K sothat the shackle 6 can rotate to enable its free section 61 to be closeto or away from the housing 1. The controlling unit 8 is formed with ablock 80 and a driving member 81. The driving member 81 is wedged in anotch 205 of the spindle 20 so that the driving member 81 together withother parts of the controlling unit 8 can rotate with the spindle 20,and thereby the spindle 20 can be used to drive the controlling unit 8.Moreover, the driving member 81 is capable of axially moving withrespect to the notch 205. An elastic plate M, as shown in the figure, ismounted around the controlling unit 8 for elastically securing thecontrolling unit 8 when controlling unit 8 rotates.

FIG. 13 illustrates that the padlock is in a locking state. At thistime, an end of the free section 61 of the shackle 6 is received in alocking hole 12 of the housing 1. The correct combination on the numeralwheels 71 is not entered yet so that the movable part 70 is not allowedto move axially. In this state, the block 80 of the controlling unit 8together with the shackle 6 is not allowed to move axially due toobstruction of the distal end 70 a of the movable part 70.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the correct combination on the numeral wheels71 is set and the movable part 70 is allowed to move axially, the freesection 61 of the shackle 6 can be pulled away from the housing 1.Specifically, since the end 70 a of the movable part 70 becomes movable,the controlling unit 8 and the movable part 70 are allowed to moveaxially with the shackle 6, and thereby the free section 61 of theshackle 6 can be released from the locking hole 12 of the housing 1 soas to have the padlock in an unlocking state.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show that the correct combination on the numeral wheels71 is not entered so that the movable part 70 is not allowed to moveaxially. In FIG. 15, the key 3 has been inserted into the keyhole 200 ofthe spindle 20 to have the latch plates 21 retract into latch slots 201and away from the room 100 of the housing 1 respectively. In themeantime, the spindle 20 is allowed to be rotated by the key 3 so as todrive the controlling unit 8 to rotate, as illustrated above. FIG. 16illustrates that the controlling unit 8 has been rotated to a specificposition where the block 80 is departed from the end 70 a of the movablepart 70 and is movable with respect to the movable part 70 so that thefree section 61 of the shackle 6 is allowed to be pulled away from thehousing 1. Specifically, since the end 70 a of the movable part 70obstructs the block 80 or other parts of the controlling unit 8 no more,the controlling unit 8 is allowed to move axially with the shackle 6simultaneously to enable the free section 61 of the shackle 6 to beremoved away from the locking hole 12 of the housing 1 so as to have thepadlock enter in an unlocking state, as shown in FIG. 17. As statedabove, even if the correct combination on the numeral wheels 71 is notentered, the controlling unit 8 is movable axially by operation of theindicative lock core 2 in order to have the free section 61 of theshackle 6 be released from the housing 1.

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 illustrate a padlock in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is generallysimilar to the first embodiment with same references designated for thesame features. FIG. 18 illustrates that the padlock is in a lockingstate. At this time, the end of the free section 61 of the shackle 6 islodged in the locking hole 12 of the housing 1. The correct combinationon the numeral wheels 71 is not entered, so the movable part 70 is notallowed to move axially. In this state, the block 80 of the controllingunit 8 together with the shackle 6 is not allowed to move axially due toobstruction of the distal end 70 a of the movable part 70.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the key 3 is inserted into the keyhole 200 ofthe spindle 20 of the indicative lock core 2 of the padlock, theblocking plate 23 moves away from a flange 14 of the housing 1 and drawsback into the blocking slot 203 so as to have the spindle 20 partly bebounced out of the opening 10 of the housing 1 by a spring 27 to anindicative position where the lower portion 20 a of the spindle 20exposed outside the housing 1.

Referring to FIG. 20, the driving member 81 of the controlling unit 8 isengaged with the spindle 20 so that when the spindle 20 is rotated bythe key 3, the spindle 20 drives the controlling unit 8 to rotate inorder to have the block 80 depart from the distal end 70 a of themovable part 70 of the combination lock core 7. At the same time, theshackle 6 partly bounces off the housing 1 as a result of the remainingresilience of the spring 27 and the padlock enters into the unlockingstate as depicted in FIG. 20.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, when the spindle 20 partly bounced out ofthe housing 1 by the spring 27, the protrusion 25 formed on the spindle20 moves with the spindle 20 along the channel 13 of the housing 1 to aposition A. When the spindle 20 is rotated by the key 3, the protrusion25 rotates with the spindle 20 along the channel 13 to a position B.

If restoration of the spindle 20 is needed, a user may simply push thespindle 20 directly by hand to have the spindle 20 completely back intothe housing 1, as shown in FIG. 18.

As described above, it is understood that the spindle 20 of the secondembodiment moves immediately to the indicative position once the key 3is inserted into the spindle 20 due to the bounce of the spring 27,which makes the second embodiment greatly different from the firstembodiment.

FIGS. 22 to 27 illustrate a padlock in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is generallysimilar to the foregoing embodiments with same references designated forthe same features. In the third embodiment, the housing 1 furtherdefines a blocking channel 12 a and a limit channel 13 a therein. Whenthe spindle 20 rotates or moves axially, the blocking plate 23 movesalong the blocking channel 12 a and the protrusion 25 which is on thespindle 20 moves along the limit channel 13 a.

As shown in FIG. 24, the blocking channel 12 a has a vertical section120 a, a first horizontal section 121 a and a second horizontal section122 a. The first horizontal section 121 a extends from an upper portionof the vertical section 120 a. The second horizontal section 122 aextends from a lower portion of the vertical section 120 a and liesunder the first horizontal section 121 a. A guiding slope 123 a, asshown in FIG. 22, is defined at a top edge wall of the second horizontalsection 122 a.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the limit channel 13 a functions as thechannel 13 of the first embodiment, but differs in configuration.Specifically, the limit channel 13 a has a first vertical section 130 a,a second vertical section 131 a, a first horizontal section 132 a and asecond horizontal section 133 a. The first horizontal section 132 aconnects an upper portion of the first vertical section 130 a and anupper portion of the second vertical section 131 a. The secondhorizontal section 133 a connects a lower portion of the first verticalsection 130 a and a lower portion of the second vertical section 131 a.

FIGS. 22 and 25 both illustrate that the padlock is in a locking state.At this time, further referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, the protrusion 25 islocated in the intersection of the first horizontal section 132 a andthe second vertical section 131 a of the limit channel 13 a, and theblocking plate 23 is lodged in an end of the first horizontal section121 a of the blocking channel 12 a so that the spindle 20 is not allowedto move axially. When the key 3 is inserted into the keyhole 200 of thespindle 20, as shown in FIG. 25, the key 3 drives the latch plates 21 todraw back from the room 100 of the housing 1, except the blocking plate23, so that the spindle 20 is allowed to be rotated subsequently, butnot allowed to be moved axially.

FIG. 26 shows that the spindle 20 is rotated by the key 3 and movesaxially to the indicative position as a result of the bounce of thespring 27. In the meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 23, the protrusion25 rotates with the spindle 20 along the first horizontal section 132 aand then moves downward with the spindle 20 along the first verticalsection 130 a. Specifically, the protrusion 25 goes from theintersection A of the first horizontal section 132 a and the secondvertical section 131 a to the intersection B of the first horizontalsection 132 a and the first vertical section 130 a, and finally to theintersection C of the first vertical section 130 a and the secondhorizontal section 133 a. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 24, theblocking plate 23 rotates with the spindle 20 along the first horizontalsection 121 a and then moves downward with the spindle 20 along thevertical section 120 a.

Specifically, the blocking plate 23 goes from the position E to theintersection F of the first horizontal section 121 a and the verticalsection 120 a, and finally to the intersection G of the vertical section120 a and the second horizontal section 122 a.

As shown in FIG. 26, the driving member 81 of the controlling unit 8 isengaged with the spindle 20. Accordingly, when the spindle 20 is rotatedby the key 3, the spindle 20 drives the controlling unit 8 to rotate inorder to have the block 80 depart from the distal end 70 a of themovable part 70 of the combination lock core 7. Immediately, the shackle6 partly bounces off the housing 1 as a result of the remainingresilience of the spring 27 and the padlock enters into the unlockingstate.

In FIG. 27, the spindle 20 is reversely rotated by the key 3, the key 3is taken out of the indicative lock core 2, and the shackle 6 is pushedback into its locking position. The padlock enters into the lockingstate. While the spindle 20 is reversely rotated, the protrusion 25 goesfrom the intersection C to the intersection D of the second verticalsection 131 a and the second horizontal section 133 a, as shown in FIG.23; and the blocking plate 23 goes from the intersection G to theposition H, as shown in FIG. 24. Compared FIG. 27 with FIG. 22, thespindle 20 of FIG. 27 remains in the indicative position where the lowerportion 20 a exposed outside the housing 1. If restoration of thespindle 20 is needed, a user may simply push the spindle 20 directly byhand to have the spindle 20 completely back into the housing 1. Whilethe spindle 20 is moving back into the housing 1, the protrusion 25moves from the intersection D to the intersection A.

Additionally, a guiding slope 123 a of the second horizontal section 122a leads the blocking plate 23 from the position H of the secondhorizontal section 122 a to the position E of the first horizontalsection 121 a and be lodged therein, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24.

As described above, it is understood that the spindle 20 of the thirdembodiment moves to the indicative position by the spring 27 only whenthe key 3 is inserted into the spindle 20 and drives the spindle 20 torotate, which makes the third embodiment greatly different from thesecond embodiment.

FIGS. 28 to 32 illustrate a padlock in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the present invention with same references designated forthe same features. The fourth embodiment is generally similar to thefirst, second and third embodiments, except that a restoring plate 40 ais included in the fourth embodiment, but the spring 27 is excluded fromthe fourth embodiment. The restoring plate 40 a functions as therestoring plate 40 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the restoringplate 40 a is joined to the controlling unit 8, more particularly to abottom of the driving member 81 of the controlling unit 8.

In FIG. 29, the key 3 is inserted into the keyhole 200 of the spindle 20of the indicative lock core 2 and drives the spindle 20 to rotateclockwise by 90 degrees. The block 80 of the controlling unit 8 rotateswith the spindle 20 to depart from the distal end 70 a of the movablepart 70 of the combination lock core 7. At this time, the shackle 6which is engaged with the controlling unit 8 is ready to be moved. Oncethe shackle 6 is pulled upward, the padlock enters into its unlockingstate, as shown in FIG. 29.

In FIG. 30, the key 30 is rotated reversely to have the padlock returnback to a state, as shown in FIG. 28, and then is taken out of thepadlock. Similar to the first embodiment, while the key 30 of thisfourth embodiment is pulled out, the spindle 20 moves with the key 3 abit to have its lower portion 20 a exposed outside the housing 1.

FIG. 31 illustrates that the combination lock core 7 is entered thecorrect combination, and the shackle 6 is lifted up to have the padlockenter its unlocking state. At this time, since the restoring plate 40 isjoined to the controlling unit 8 which is engaged with the shackle 6,the restoring plate 40 a moves upward with the shackle 6 and thecontrolling unit 8. Due to the upward movement of the restoring plate 40a, the blocking plate 23 and the latch plates 21 are pushed aside by therestoring plate 40 a and draw back into the spindle 20, which allows thespindle 20 to be returned to its original position. That is, the spindle20 can be easily pushed back to its original position by hand, as shownin FIG. 32.

As described above, it is understood that the spindle 20 of the fourthembodiment moves to the indicative position when the key 3 is extractedfrom the keyhole 200, which is similar to the first embodiment; however,the spindle 20 can be returned back into the housing only when thecorrect combination of the combination lock core 7 is entered, whichmakes the fourth embodiment greatly different from the first embodiment.

FIGS. 33 to 34 illustrate a padlock in accordance with a fifthembodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment excludes theabove-mentioned combination lock core 7. Rather, the fifth embodimentincludes a special key-operated lock core 2 c. The spindle 20 c of thekey-operated lock core 2 c of the present embodiment has an unusualkeyhole 200 c capable of receiving either a first key 290 c or a secondkey 291 c. In other words, either one of the first key 290 c and thesecond key 291 c can be used, independent of one another, to actuate thekey-operated lock core 2 c in order to lock or unlock the padlock. Thesecond key 291 c further controls whether the spindle 20 c is allowed tomove to the indicative position.

In the fifth embodiment, the spindle 20 c is constructed to move to theindicative position under one of the three following situations. In oneexample, the spindle 20 c may be constructed to move to the indicativeposition when the key 291 c is inserted into the keyhole 200 c of thespindle 20 c. In another example, the spindle 20 c may be constructed tomove to the indicative position when the key 291 c is inserted into thekeyhole 200 c of the spindle 20 c and is operated to rotate the spindle20 c to an angle. In yet another example, the spindle 20 c may beconstructed to move to the indicative position when the key 291 c isdrawn out of the keyhole 200 c of the spindle 20 c.

From the foregoing description, the present invention relates to apadlock provided with the indicative lock core to indicate whether theindicative lock core has been operated by a key. This kind of indicativelock core is applied to many types of locks. More particularly, theindicative lock core can move to an indicative position where theindicative lock core is partly exposed outside the housing.

In any case, one would understand that the present invention containsindustrial applicability in view of the teachings of the foregoingdescription. Further, the present invention contains novelty because noprior art has been found to be the same with the present invention.Still further, the present invention contains non-obviousness because noprior art has been found to be similar to the present invention.Accordingly, the present invention fulfills the requirements for autility patent and is filed herein for application.

1. A lock having a key and operable by the key to enter into either alocking state or an unlocking state, the lock comprising: a housing; ashackle having one end movably disposed in the housing; a combinationlock core configured to control upward and downward movement of theshackle with respect to the housing; an indicative lock core disposed inthe housing and including a spindle; the spindle being displaceable froman original position to an indication position in response to operationof the key; and when the spindle is situated in the indication position,the spindle is rotatable only by the key and is not allowed to returnback to the original position by the rotation of the key; and acontrolling unit connected to the indicative lock core, and no matterthe spindle is situated in the original position or in the indicationposition, the controlling unit being movable with respect to the housingby the rotation of the spindle between a first position where the lockis in the locking state and a second position where the lock is in theunlocking state.
 2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the housing defines anopening therein; the spindle has a distal end that is received in theopening of the housing when the spindle is situated in the originalposition; the distal end of the spindle is located outside the openingof the housing when the spindle is situated in the indication position.3. The lock of claim 1 further comprising a blocking plate constructedto stop the spindle from returning back to the original position whilethe spindle is situated in the indication position.
 4. The lock of claim3, wherein the blocking plate is movably disposed in the spindle.
 5. Thelock of claim 1, wherein the spindle and the housing are different incolor.
 6. The lock of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the spindle andthe housing are different in color.
 7. The lock of claim 2, wherein theend of the shackle which is disposed in the housing is rotatably mountedon the controlling unit.
 8. The lock of claim 1, wherein the spindledefines a keyhole for receiving the key; and the spindle is pulled outby the key to the indication position when the key is pulled out of thekeyhole.
 9. The lock of claim 8 further comprising a blocking plateconstructed to stop the spindle from returning back to the originalposition while the spindle is situated in the indication position. 10.The lock of claim 9, wherein the blocking plate is movably disposed inthe spindle.